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Cypress Ranch's Braden Baker (Houston commit)
HOMETOWN HERO: Cy Ranch’s Baker Looking to Put On for the City
“It’s something I’ve been waiting for,” Baker said of his upcoming senior season. “I’m really excited for my senior year and I think it’s going to be a big season.”
In 2025, Cy Ranch reached the Regional Semifinals for the first time since 2014, the year the Mustangs advanced to the State Championship game. For Baker, the upcoming campaign is about ushering Cypress Ranch back toward those heights.
“I want to lead my team to State,” he said. “From a recognition standpoint, I want to earn all-district honors or even District MVP and really solidify my legacy at Cy Ranch.”
Baker’s commitment to the local Houston Cougars this offseason added another layer of motivation heading into the 2026 campaign — the opportunity to represent his hometown on an even bigger stage.
Matt Powell (VYPE)
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“It means the world to me being able to show out in front of my city,” Baker said. “I’m definitely going to show Houston fans what they’re getting next year.”
While Baker’s motivation heading into his senior season stems from several different factors, perhaps the biggest driving force is his desire to prove consistency. He understands the spotlight that comes with his success and knows the question surrounding him: was last season a breakthrough, or the beginning of something bigger?
“I’m trying to prove that I’m supposed to be where I am right now,” he said. “I want to show people that last year wasn’t just a one-time deal and that I’m going to keep improving my senior year.”
With a championship pursuit ahead and a new chapter waiting at Houston, Baker enters 2026 determined to show that his rise was only the beginning.
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The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Cy Ranch Mustangs volleyball team.
THE SETUP: No. 6 Cypress Ranch | VYPE Houston Volleyball 2026 Preseason Rankings
Offensively, McKinney’s arsenal will once again flow through Sade Bello on the pin. The junior Kansas commit turned in a superb sophomore performance, totaling nearly 400 kills and 132 digs while earning District 16-6A Co-Attacker of the Year honors. She shared that distinction with Saniya Reynolds, a gifted hitter who returns to bolster the offense as a senior before beginning her collegiate career at the University of Kentucky.
Rising junior Payton Tompkins steps into the starting setter role following the graduation of 16-6A MVP Zora Bello (Rice). On defense, second-team libero Kaelyn Harvey returns to patrol the back row, while seniors Dayla Fields (honorable mention) and Chloe Corzo help round out a balanced Mustangs front line.
If Cy Ranch’s 2026 mantra—“Powered by Purpose”—is any indication, the Lady Mustangs view last fall as a launching point, not a finish line.
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Cypress Ranch's Kaelyn Harvey (Jr. L/DS)Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)